Seated on a small bench outside and hidden behind the breathtaking blooming plant life of the Institute's majestic garden Caitlyn sighs in contentment. The brunette's Sheriff's sky blue orbs avidly following the masterfully crafted lines of her newly purchased book. An interesting fictional novel about the life and ventures of a Zaunite defense attorney trying to free his corrupted city-state from the nefarious machinations of a cruel and notorious chem-baron.
With a rare smile gracing her usually upturned lips and her immediate attention fully focused on the depiction of an intense trial Caitlyn fails to notice the padded feet that are stealthily approaching her favorite reading spot. The low guttural growl that is presently emanating from the large prowling feline behind her also escaping the preoccupied Sheriff's attention before the undetected predator suddenly lunges towards the unsuspecting sheriff.
Caitlyn actually yelps in surprise when half the weight of an adult yellow cougar abruptly lands on top of her lap, the Sheriff's initial surprise at the sudden and so unprovoked scare resulting in her new book ending up sailing through the air after Caitlyn reflexively throws the novel away in her fright. The uncapped purple thermos containing the brunette police officer's beloved herbal tea also unwittingly falling to the ground and spilling its fragrant contents all over the shyly fluttering grass-blades.
"Rusted cogs, Nidalee!" Caitlyn heatedly exclaims when the startled brunette policewoman manages to confirm the identity of the sneaky assailant that is playfully nuzzling her thighs with her wet nose. "Would it inconvenience you to act more subtle and civilized for once or to occasionally behave in a more-"
And then the famed Sheriff of Piltover attempts to angrily glare at the giant yellow cougar that's resting on her lap only for Caitlyn to come face to face with a sparkling pair of big wet feline eyes that are presently glistering in immense, heartfelt sadness. The intelligent policewoman's cognitive thinking process instantly melts from the humongous kitten's sheer adorableness.
…
When Caitlyn's brain finally recovers from its nearly imminent meltdown the stern policewoman finds herself subconsciously petting Nidalee's head that is still casually resting on her lap as if that is actually its rightful place. Caitlyn frowns at once, quickly realizing that the actual problem isn't that she is currently caressing the soft and warm fur of the Bestial Huntress, but the fact that Nidalee is presently nuzzling her hand in her human form.
The cunning Piltovian woman slowly blinks, realizes that what she is doing is demeaning, probably racist and definitely unprofessional and attempts to swiftly remove the offending appendage from the happily nudging scalp of the affectionate shapeshifter.
The resulting warning growl that emanates from the throat of the Bestial Huntress during that action however forces the poor workaholic policewoman to reconsider her choice.
"Nidalee, is there any particular reason for you-" A closed pair of knuckles abruptly muffles Caitlyn's voice, the mischievous shapeshifter using one of her human hands to form a kitty paw of sorts and then pressing it against the moving lips of the puzzled Piltovian Sheriff. Nidalee then lightly tilts her head against the lap of the other woman as if she is a curious newborn kitten.
"You talk too.. much sometimes." The mischievous spell caster tries to find the right words to voice her thoughts. "You use too… many strange… sentences? No, words. You use too many long words."
The Kumungu huntress shifts a little against Caitlyn's thighs until she is comfortable and then closes her eyes for a brief moment. The humanoid cat paw unceremoniously retreating from Caitlyn's silent lips. The Bestial Huntress faintly growls in annoyance seemingly having some trouble fueling this one-sided conversation with the quiet Sheriff.
"It… it is.."
Nidalee's eyes narrow in thought, the Kumungu huntress' tanned face twisting, adopting a troubled expression for a moment as the primal shapeshifter carefully searches inside her thoughts for more specific human sounds.
"It is much easier for me to… listen to you when you aren't talking, C-Caitlyn. No strange… noises? to confuse me. Only you. Only presence, only warmth. That.. that.. I… enjoy."
Caitlyn mutedly stares at the shapeshifter's peaceful face on her lap and then at her discarded book that's lying on the grass a few paces away from the secluded garden bench. The tanned spell caster whines.
With a resigned sigh escaping her lips the Sheriff of Piltover starts lightly stroking the hair of the lazy Kumungu shapeshifter as Nidalee offers Caitlyn a wide feline smile.